Pheasant season set to kick off with word of caution

The pheasant season opens in Iowa this weekend and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is stressing safety. Recreational safety programs supervisor, Megan Wisecup, says there’s more standing corn this year and that raises the need for caution.

Wisecup says one of the biggest things for hunting this year with all the corn is the visibility of hunters, and she says you should check to see that your blaze orange hasn’t faded. Wisecup says the law requires you to wear some clothing that is 50% blaze orange. She says that can be a hat, cap, vest, jacket or sweatshirt. Wisecup says hunters also need to make a hunting plan before they pull the trigger.

Wisecup says it’s important to keep in mind your "zone of fire" or a 45-degree angle in each direction in front of you, so you don’t end up shooting another hunter. She says its more important this year to communicate, as all the corn still in the fields will make it harder to see each other. Wisecup says the D.N.R. is hoping the veteran hunters will help expand the sport.

Wisecup says they’re trying to encourage hunters to invite someone new out to hunt this year, and says there are a lot of programs for new hunters. You can find out more about the programs at: www.iowadnr.gov . It’s estimate some 100,000 hunters will take to the field for the pheasant season.